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      Chelsea boss Tuchel ‘wants Aubameyang transfer’ and ‘demands world class players only’ in damning verdict on squad

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      THOMAS TUCHEL has told Chelsea owner Todd Boehly to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and demanded he only sign world class players.Chelsea start their season against Everton in Saturday’s late kick-off, and have seen a number of new stars come through the door at Stamford Bridge.
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is wanted by ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Thomas Tuchel demanded the club sign world class playersCredit: Getty
      But these are still not enough for Tuchel, who has reportedly described his squad as average.
      According to Florian Plettenberg, the German coach wants to add Aubameyang to his squad next, having previously worked with him while at Borussia Dortmund.
      However, Barcelona want to keep the former Arsenal man as a top back up to Lewandowski, with them preferring Memphis Depay to leave instead.
      Aubameyang joined the club on a free transfer in January, scoring 13 times in 23 games.
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      Chelsea signed Marc Cucurella and Carney Chukwuemeka earlier this week deals with £62milliion and £20m from Brighton and Aston Villa respectively.
      Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly also joined earlier in the window to bolster Tuchel’s squad.
      The club are also after Leicester’s Wesley Fofana and have now entered the race to sign Manchester United target Frenkie de Jong.
      Although whether these players are among those who Tuchel refers to as world class remains to be seen.
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      In terms of outgoings, Marcos Alonso appears set to leave for Barcelona after he said goodbye to his team-mates.
      They managed to retain captain Cesar Azpilicueta after he penned a new two-year contract. More

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      Barcelona BANNED from registering new transfers like Lewandowski for LaLiga games until they reduce financial outgoings

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      BARCELONA have been BANNED by registering any of their new signings until they cut their spending.The debt-ridden Spaniards have splashed the cash on transfers this summer.
      Barcelona cannot register any of their new signings for LaLiga gamesCredit: Getty
      President Joan Laporta needs to reduce spending in order to register the playersCredit: The Mega Agency
      Barcelona have spent £150million on players this summerCredit: Getty
      Barca have spent a combined £150million on Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha.
      Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie have also been signed on free transfers, while Marcos Alonso is reportedly on the verge of a switch from Chelsea.
      But the club have been banned from registering any of their new arrivals until they reduce their financial outgoings, according to the Mirror.
      Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto cannot be registered either because their contracts expired and were then renewed.
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      President Joan Laporta has tried to free up funds by selling off 25 per cent of Barcelona’s TV rights.
      The club then flogged 25 per cent of Barca Studio, which handles Barcelona’s digital output.
      All in all Barca are claimed to have raised around £650m by selling off assets.
      Yet the crippling debt at the Nou Camp means it’s still not enough to register their new players.
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      Laporta though has vowed to continue trimming on spending so his new players can report for duty.
      He confirmed at Lewandowski’s official presentation on Friday: “We have worked to enrol all of them. We have worked hard and productively, in order to meet the requirements.
      “And if it is necessary to carry out any more operations, we will do it. We are waiting. It is a decision that La Liga must make.
      “We have complied with what it requires. We are confident that we will be able to register them.”
      Sales are now necessary if Laporta wants to register his new signings.
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      Frenkie de Jong remains strongly tipped to leave, with Manchester United and Chelsea both keen on the Dutchman.
      The likes of Memphis Depay, Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanic and Martin Braithwaite are also free to depart. More

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      Chelsea stars ‘say goodbye to Marcos Alonso’ with defender to seal Barcelona transfer as Blues sign Cucurella for £62m

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      CHELSEA players have reportedly said their goodbyes to Marcos Alonso ahead of his move to Barcelona.The 31-year-old left-back has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge all summer.
      Chelsea defender Alonso looks set to complete a move to BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      But that speculation increased further following the signing of Brighton star Marc Cucurella.
      Thomas Tuchel now has both Cucurella and Ben Chilwell to choose from at left-back – leaving Alonso out in the cold.
      And according to The Mail, the Spaniard has carried out his farewells to staff at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground as he bids to seal a transfer this weekend.
      Alonso has won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League during a successful six-year stint with the Blues.
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      But now his days as a Chelsea player are numbered as Barcelona close in on his signature.
      90min have reported that the Catalan giants are “confident” of reaching an agreement for the defender.
      That is despite news on Friday that LaLiga have denied them registering five new players until they raise more funds.
      In order to do so, Barca will need to sell players such as Frenkie de Jong – who has been heavily linked with Manchester United.
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      Meanwhile, Alonso was thought to be heading to Barcelona along with Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta.
      But the Blues skipper completed a U-turn earlier this week when he signed a new two-year deal to remain at Stamford Bridge.
      Azpilicueta’s commitment eases the Blues’ need to recruit further defensive reinforcements.
      Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen left for free in the summer following the expiration of their contracts.
      Only Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli has been brought in as a replacement after the club missed out on Jules Kounde. More

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      Cesar Azpilicueta in shock transfer U-turn as he signs new TWO-YEAR Chelsea contract after snubbing Barcelona

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      CHELSEA captain Cesar Azpilicueta has performed a shock transfer U-turn by snubbing Barcelona and signing a new two-year deal. The Spaniard was entering the final year on his current deal which was only extended at the end of last season.
      Cesar Azpilicueta has signed a new two-year Chelsea dealCredit: Rex
      And Azpilicueta has spent the transfer window linked with a move back to Spain with Barcelona.
      And although it was previously claimed the defender favoured a move away, according to The Athletic, he has committed his future to Chelsea.
      Azpilicueta’s commitment eases the Blues’ need to recruit further defensive reinforcements.
      Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen already left for free in the summer, following their contract both expiring.
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      Only Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli has been brought in as a replacement after the club missed out on Jules Kounde.
      The Frenchman instead joined Barca, creating tension between Chelsea and Nou Camp chiefs.
      And is was already suggested new Blues boss Todd Boehly was ready to deny Azpilicueta a move to LaLiga.
      Chelsea remain linked with Brighton left-back Marc Cucurella, Inter Milan wingback Denzel Dumfries and Leicester centre-back Wesley Fofana.
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      Azpilicueta has been at the club for a decade now, and has made 472 appearances in all competitions for them.
      His contract at the club was due to expire in this summer, but an extension clause in his deal was triggered when he hit 35 games last season.
      Azpilicueta has always appealed to Tuchel due to his ability to play in a back three or at wingback, suiting the German’s structure.
      Cesar Azpilicueta and Chelsea boss Thomas TuchelCredit: Reuters More

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      Barcelona boss Xavi dashes Chelsea’s hopes of sensational transfer for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

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      BARCELONA manager Xavi has reportedly shut down talk of Chelsea target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leaving this summer.The former Arsenal captain, 33, has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge just eight months after arriving at the Nou Camp.
      The former Arsenal man has been linked with a move to Stamford BridgeCredit: Reuters
      Xavi is thought to have ruled out Aubameyang’s departure this summerCredit: Reuters
      It comes as Thomas Tuchel searches for a replacement for Romelu Lukaku – who returned to Inter Milan on loan after a difficult 12 months with the Blues.
      However, Xavi now appears to have poured cold water on an Aubameyang-Chelsea link-up.
      According to Sport, the club have no intention of selling him in the current window.
      Despite the arrival of Robert Lewandowski, Xavi believes the pair can co-exist within the squad and even link-up together in certain matches.
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      The report also states that Aubameyang does not want to leave as he fought hard to secure the move to Barcelona and wishes to fight for his place.
      Aubameyang netted 13 goals in the second half of last season, making him the club’s joint top scorer despite not being with them for the first half of the campaign.
      And he will have more firepower alongside him this season in the form of Lewandowski and Raphinha.
      But one man who looks set to be shown the exit door is Dutch forward Memphis Depay.
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      The former Lyon star seems to be surplus to requirements and has been linked with Juventus and Tottenham.
      Meanwhile, Chelsea are continuing to search for another attacker to add to the signing of Raheem Sterling.
      The Premier League side are rumoured to be interested in RB Salzburg man Benjamin Sesko.
      However, he will reportedly set them back around £55million, with Man Utd and Newcastle also in the race. More

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      Chelsea owner Todd Boehly BLOCKS Cesar Azpilicueta’s transfer to Barcelona and wants Spaniard to remain as captain

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      TODD BOEHLY has reportedly asked Cesar Azpilicueta to remain at Chelsea as captain after BLOCKING a transfer to Barcelona.Azpilicueta has been linked with a move to Barcelona for some time now.
      Cesar Azpilicueta wants to leave Chelsea after a decade with the clubCredit: Getty
      Azpilicueta has won the full set at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
      Todd Boehly has told the defender he doesn’t want to sell himCredit: PA
      But with a lack of defensive reinforcements this summer Boehly has prevented Azpilicueta from leaving Stamford Bridge.
      Instead, he wants the veteran to stay at Chelsea as he does not want to lose “his experience and leadership.”
      According to The Times however, Azpilicueta remains optimistic a deal can be struck between the two clubs.
      It is understood the Spaniard has his heart set on a move to the Nou Camp.
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      The versatile defender has completed a clean sweep of trophies at Chelsea, following on from The Blues’ victory in the Club World Cup earlier this year.
      Azpilicueta has been at the club for a decade now, and has made 472 appearances in all competitions for them.
      The 32-year-old’s contract at the club was due to expire in this summer, but an extension clause in his deal was triggered when he hit 35 games last season.
      This gave Chelsea some much-needed breathing room around potential player losses at the start of the summer due to the club’s operations being limited as part of sanctions levelled at ex-owner Roman Abramovich.
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      New owner Boehly has already brought in Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Carney Chukwuemeka as well as a host of youngsters.
      But a number of high-profile targets have slipped through their grasp, most notably Jules Kounde and Raphinha who were ironically snapped up by Barcelona.
      The Blaugrana also signed Andreas Christensen on a free transfer after he left Chelsea when his contract expired at the end of last season.
      Chelsea have identified Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella as targets.
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      However, the club’s £63m offer for Frenchman Fofana was rejected by Leicester.
      Meanwhile, despite reports stating an agreement worth over £50m had been reached for Cucurella, Brighton issued a statement shortly after denying the claims. More

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      Chelsea ‘considering shock Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang transfer after ex-Arsenal man slips down Barcelona pecking order’

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      CHELSEA are reportedly considering a shock approach for Barcelona’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. New Blues owner Todd Boehly started the window by signing forward Raheem Sterling from Manchester City.
      Chelsea are reportedly considering a shock approach for Pierre-Emerick AubameyangCredit: Getty
      But it appears Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is still keen on bringing another striker to the club, after Romelu Lukaku returned to Inter Milan on loan.
      The Premier League side missed out on Robert Lewandowski, who left Bayern Munich for Barcelona.
      But as a result, it has left Aubameyang’s future in doubt at the Nou Camp.
      According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are considering the former Arsenal captain as a target for the club.
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      No bid is said to have been made but the Gabon international has emerged as a shock option.
      Aubameyang was once linked with a move to Stamford Bridge when Frank Lampard was in charge.
      But he remained at Arsenal, only to leave for FREE last January after a falling out with manager Mikel Arteta.
      Aubameyang has scored 13 goals in 23 games but Barca have also brought in winger Raphinha from Leeds already this season.
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      Frenkie de Jong, who is faced with cutting his wages at Barca, is also rumoured to be a player Tuchel likes.
      The Dutchman has so far shown no interest in joining Manchester United but is understood to welcome a move to Chelsea.
      A loan move, which would help take his £470,000-a-week wages off Barca’s hands, has been mooted.
      Frenkie de Jong is linked with a move to ChelseaCredit: GETTY More

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      Football superstar brothers look unrecognisable from heartwarming photo of them when they were children

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      AN image of two football superstar brothers as children has gone viral on social media as the duo look unrecognisable.The heartwarming photo shows Paris Saint-Germain ace Rafinha on the left, pictured with his Liverpool starring brother Thiago Alcantara.
      Rafinha (left) with brother Thiago (right)
      Rafinha won an Olympic gold medal with Brazil in 2016Credit: Getty
      Liverpool star Thiago Alcantara is one of the best technical midfielders in the worldCredit: Reuters
      Fans reacted online to the post made by Rafinha, one joked he can see the likeness to what Thiago is like now on the pitch: “He got this serious face from childhood. No smiling mood.”
      Rafinha, 29, is the younger of the pair. He is currently at PSG but spent last season out on loan at Real Sociedad.
      The central-midfielder has also played for the likes of Inter Milan and Celta Vigo.
      Like his brother Thiago he began his career at Barcelona’s La Masia.
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      While at the Nou Camp he won the LaLiga title three times and the Champions League once.
      Meanwhile, Thiago, 31, has had even more success than his sibling winning TEN league titles and two Champions Leagues in a glittering career at both Barca and Bayern Munich.
      He is now an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side.
      Interestingly, the brothers play have opted to play for different national teams as a result of holding dual citizenship.
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      Rafinha has two caps for Brazil and Thiago has made 46 appearances for Spain.
      They are from a sporting family, their father is ex-footballer Mazinho who won the 1994 World Cup with Brazil.
      And their mother Valeria Alcantara was a former Brazilian volleyball player. More